BOYS' BASKETBALL: Waynesboro downs Spring Grove, 63-55

Tuesday

Dec 31, 2013 at 9:00 AM

As 2013 ends, the Waynesboro Indians basketball team has more wins in December than all last season.

WAYNESBORO — As 2013 ends, the Waynesboro Indians basketball team has more wins in December than all last season.Waynesboro ran its record to 8-1 Monday night with a 63-55 non-league victory over the Spring Grove Rockets.The game really wasn’t that close as the Indians made a few mistakes in the closing three minutes while holding a 16-point, 63-47, lead. The Rockets ran off the game’s last eight points to make the score respectable.Although the Rockets had three starters taller than Devonte Montgomery, Waynesboro’s biggest starter at 6-2, the Indians played at such a frantic pace Spring Grove just couldn’t keep up.Several times after a Spring Grove bucket, Waynesboro matched it within six seconds.Seemingly, the Indians gave the Rockets no time to think, harassing them all over the court.“Everything we do is about making the opponent uncomfortable,” Waynesboro coach Tom Hoffman said. “When we inbound the ball and get it down the floor and they’re still jogging back or celebrating their make, good things usually happen. We seemed to do that tonight a couple of times when we caught them napping a little.”Ryan Kelley had a big offensive effort for the Indians as he made some difficult drives against the taller Rockets, scoring nine in the opening half en route to a 13-point effort. “Ryan’s been playing such a good floor game, just running the team and not worrying about scoring,” Hoffman said. “We all know he can score. Tonight he proved that and he had another six assists. That’s exactly what we’re looking for from our point guard spot. It’s just another testament that you have to guard all our guys.”Montgomery took control in the third period with 12 of his 17 as the Indians turned a 32-25 halftime lead into 52-39 after three.Shaquill Smith came off the bench to convert all six of his free throws for the Tribe.The Indians normally have some issues at the foul line, but on this night they were 18-for-23, which proved to be the difference in the game.Waynesboro only trailed once and that was when the Rockets netted the game’s first basket.A trey by Seth Hoffman put the Indians in front and Kelley followed with a traditional three-point play.Spring Grove (3-7) forged two ties, the last at 8-8, before the Indians took the lead for good on a free throw by Connor Fetterhoff (10 points), two free throw hits by Smith, a 3 from the left corner by Montgomery and a score in traffic from Tim Ingram (8 points) that gave the Tribe a 16-10 advantage heading into the second period.With Eli Brooks pouring in eight in the second period, Spring Grove lost just a point to the Indians, who were led by six each from Kelley and Fetterhoff.Montgomery hit his 12 points from the paint and behind the 3-point arc in the third to allow the Indians build their lead to 13 going into the final segment.“Devonte was Devonte again,” Hoffman said. “It seems like a broken record. He went through a stretch (third period) where it seemed he flipped a switch.”The Indians shot 37 percent from the field, as Kelley sizzled with 5-for-6 and Ingram was 4-for-8. Of the team’s 30 rebounds, Montgomery led with nine, while Hoffman collected seven and Ingram added six. Kelley led with six assists and Hoffman claimed three. Smith and Ingram each blocked a shot. The Indians turned the ball over just 10 times.“Shaq’s been steady. He’s just a money kind of player. I know I can count on him. He played a really good floor game tonight and he’s played pretty solid D all year,” Hoffman said. “Seth had a really good all-around game. Seven rebounds from the two guard spot, three assists, two steals. Everybody we play knows he can shoot. To see him fill up a boxscore in so many different ways proves he’s a pretty solid all-around player.”Brooks led Spring Groove with 18, while Vick Spangler tossed in 17 and Gaskins had 11.The Waynesboro jayvees upped their record to 2-4 with a 50-45 win in the preliminary.The Indians had a four-point, 47-43, lead with about a minute to go, but held on for the win with two free throws by Cameron Keck, a steal by Ogo Akamelu and free throw by Nick Franki.Keck speared four treys to lead all scorers with 18, while Franki netted 13 and Jevik Fogelsonger had eight.Waynesboro looks forward to a busy weekend with tough games against 7-2 Boiling Springs (home Friday) and 7-2 Lower Dauphin (away Saturday).

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